Join The Discussion: Terry Richards

Join The Discussion: Terry Richards

Students and staff share favorite moments with campus science teacher

Teacher, mentor, and devoted Christian Terry Richards continues to impact Fresno Christian students and staff. As Richards is currently in the hospital, students reflect on their favorite memories and stories involving their science teacher. With the family requesting no visitors, prayers would be appreciated as he recovers.

As well as running the Brother to Brother program on campus, Richards is the junior high Bible and science teacher. Entering his 58th year of teaching, Richards aims to impact students for Christ and encourage them to act as people of integrity. Teaching at FCS for 19 years, Richards continues to challenge students academically and spiritually.

Richards taught elementary and junior high for 33 years in Baldwin Park, CA before moving to Fresno. He provided independent study for high school and adult students in the Selma School District for six years. Richards joined in the Air National Guard Reserves from 1956-1962. He started as a substitute teacher at FCS before Gladys Kerfoot got him to begin his journey as full time in 1999.

The FC community appreciates Richards’ contributions to the school and would like to recognize him for all that he does, through teaching God’s word and caring for others.

“I think that Mr. Richards has made a good impact on me to be a better person and to be kinder. In his class I have learned to trust God and other people, from him. I think he is a great teacher because he cares about and loves the students, and wants us to grow in Christ.”

“My favorite thing about Mr. Richards is how he would integrate his life stories into his lessons that he was teaching. Anytime he had any kind of lesson on any kind of topic, he would always have a story to go with it. He impacted the school in many ways, a lot with the guys teaching us how to live great Christian lives and just in general teaching a great class. We learned a lot from him as a teacher. My favorite thing about Mr. Richards is his endurance. When we went on the 7th grade trip he would plow through the entire three days of jammed packed trips to all the different museums and through his classes. He would be in class all the time. Even the day after he got ear surgery he would still be in class pounding it out and getting the lessons done.”

“I think my favorite thing about Mr. Richards is that he always empowered us to be the best that we could possibly be. My favorite memory was when he used to make fun of our 5th period class just because of the way that we were acting. He impacted the school by just making us work harder and just be who we were supposed to be.”

A year and a half ago, The Feather video team created a video honoring Terry Richards and his Brother to Brother program.

“I loved the energy that Mr. Richards gave off, he always had a positive attitude and he taught me a lot. I just love the advice he gives, like ‘don’t do wrong’ is one of his famous quotes and I think that really applied to junior high. Mr. Richards was great, he was a great mentor he really taught me a lot of things and he taught me to use my brain in a different aspect, we did riddles every day during block period so that was really fun. I just liked being around him because he was such a positive influence and he was really well spoken. I just think he was someone there to help you throughout grades whether it was his class or not he was always there to guide you and give you the right advice.”

“For me I thought Mr. Richards did an amazing job at just connecting with students individually. For me personally he would take time to sit with me at lunch and talk about my walk with Christ and all the things going on in my life. He always found a way to relate scripture to what I was doing at the time and try to relate with me. For me that is why he is such an amazing teacher. Many teachers can’t connect with students at the level Mr. Richards did and I think he had such a gift for that. He took time out of his teaching schedule to connect with individual students so I think that makes him really special. My favorite thing he did was when someone was talking in class he would just start barking at them and I just found that really funny.”

In the following podcast, Addison Schultz talks to Hunter Raynes about his favorite memories of Richards.

“Lots of staff have come through this school and there are some outstanding ones. Looking back on those who started the school, all have contributed tremendously, but from a standpoint of the junior high and high school, Mr. Richards and his spiritual contributions are incredible. His time spent with the young men having bible studies or Brother to Brother, you can’t put a price tag on that. He’s perhaps had the greatest impact of any of the people who have taught in the junior high and high school since I’ve been here. He’s a great role model of what we should all be like, Christ centered, caring about the students, he knows how to teach to get the most from them, and is just an incredible guy.”

“Mr. Richards has shown me who God really is and shown me right from wrong. He’s helped me get through a lot of life problems through his teachings of Bible. My favorite memories of him are when he would tell us his stories and the joy he brings to us as well as making us laugh.”

“I think Mr. Richards had a lot of great things to say even when he wasn’t teaching, because there was a lot of things we learned in his class, you know science, Bible and all that but I think that he had more teaching moments when he wasn’t teaching. Nothing beats the hat story.

“Mr. Richards is a really Godly man,” Allen continued, “and he imparts all his biblical wisdom on people because that’s the way that he knows to help people out. If you come to him with advice, he gives you what he thinks and everything that he thinks is based off what the Bible thinks. I just think he’s kind of inspired me to not slow down because Mr. Richards even at an old age he didn’t slow down, he was teaching and he loved it. He went to Calvin Crest, he did all these trips, he didn’t slow down because once you slow down you stop.”

“My favorite part about Mr. Richards class was being able to come in everyday and learn something new. Especially with his geography class, I really enjoyed learning about rocks, volcanoes and the equator. The main thing I have learned from him is to not to do wrong. The one thing he says everyday, he always says be a person of integrity and it has stuck with me since day one. I would tell him keep fighting on, because no matter what, we have your back.”

“I love how Mr. Richards is super caring when he is teaching. He also does a really great job of it. I love his saying ‘Don’t do wrong’. My favorite memory was in 7th grade for our field trip when he walked around with his little megaphone that did not really do anything and plowed through the museums. Mr. Richards has impacted the school in many ways with the bottles, starting the Brother to Brother program and teaching classes for the boys to become men.”

“My favorite thing about Mr. Richards is that he can connect to the students and have an impact on their life. He can really give insight on their life and how they can change. My favorite memory would be at Calvin Crest. He wore the same hat everyday and it was really funny because he would walk in and act like he did not know what was happening. He is one of the most loved teachers and all the kids just seem to love him. He really helps the students, he has a program called Brother to Brother and it really helps the high school students and junior high students to get to know each other.”

Why do you appreciate Terry Richards? Let us know some of your favorite moments in the comments below!

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“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.” Colossians 3:23a -- Morgan Parker, ‘21, began a love for tumbling six years ago at Break The Barriers. Next year she plans to work as a gymnastics coach to guide young children. Through her tumbling experience, Parker gained All-American honors at FCC cheer camp, July 2018. She also plans to compete in cheer throughout high school and college. Besides cheer and tumbling, Parker continues to pursue piano performance. She also volunteers with CSF and Sister-to-Sister to mentor junior high students. In order to improve on her 4.0 GPA, Parker begins her first year on The Feather to enhance her writing, editing, interview and media skills.

31 Comments

I love Mr Richards. He was always a joy to have on campus, and I know he had a great impact on many of my friends’ lives as well. He clearly has such a caring heart, and its been wonderful to see how God is using him at FCS.

Mr. Richards is an incredible teacher, father, grandfather, friend, and believer! My favorite memories I have with him was when I was sick in the hospital. He always checked on me and continually prayed for my healing! His big smile and love for the Lord helped me stay positive through it all, he has the best way of making others feel welcomed and does a great job of connecting with the students!

Mr. Richards is one of the most amazing men I have ever met. He’s taught the students at our school so much on how to be mature and grow into strong Christian people. Thank you for all you have done Mr. Richards we love you!

I never personally had Mr. Richards, but the times I did spend with him I could just see how much of an impact he has on this school. I love seeing junior high students look up to him so much as he mentors them using God’s word which is amazing. Richards family, you are in my prayers. God is faithful and his healing hand is on Mr. Richards.

Mr. Richards is such an inspiration and such a great person to talk to. He was always eager to teach and wanting to set his students on the right path. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with him.

Throughout the years, there are some people maybe you don’t appreciate enough until you’ve already moved on. I feel like that’s often the place teachers find themselves in… during a moment of a student’s pass-through as they’re focusing on the future. Mr. Richards is a person who continues to add value and authenticity in his role, year after year, never wavering in quality or passion. He’s quietly one of the most impactful people on campus, offering so much to the groups of students who pass through his door. Maybe he doesn’t receive the recognition or appreciation he deserves, maybe sometimes he gets little moments of gratitude or thanks. But in the end, he’s one of the people who, whether or not we recognize it, keep the excitement in learning, morals in decision-making, and spirit of the school alive. Thank you for all you do, Mr. Richards. You bring so much goodness everywhere you go.

Mr. Richards is one of my favorite teachers from childhood. I greatly respect and appreciate his approach to teaching. My memories are that he was kind often, disciplined in love when necessary, instructed in faith and allowed his love for Jesus to permeate his actions. He is the definition of a positive role model and man of God. I’m sorry to hear that he is in the hospital. I pray that the Lord’s Will be done, hoping and praying that he will be returned to the classroom in good health soon.

We are pulling and praying for you Mr. Richards. Your quiet confidence and steadfast love for all of us enriched our family and everyone who’s life you touched. As parents we always believed in your teaching and leadership; your impact on our daughters (08’ & 10’) shines bright in their lives. Your words of wisdom are spoken to the next generation and we can’t wait for our grandchildren to get to know you.

Our Almighty God has gifted you and in turn you have gifted us all. We look forward to your return and send our sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas 🎄 Hugs to Mrs. Richards 🥰🙏🏻

Mr. Richards we love you so much and miss your positive spirit and enduring service to Lord here on campus! Want you to know what an impact you have made in my life and that I’m praying for you everyday. Thank you for everything

Mr. Richards was a wonderful teacher and mentor. I learned what diffusion is, amazing life lessons, and science of course. He is an amazing man and like a grandfather to all of those he taught. I hope that he recovers soon.

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